The killing of up to 210 protesters in Sudan has sparked tension within President Omar Bashir’s own National Congress Party (NCP), amid unusually vocal criticism from reformists. President Bashir ordered an official investigation into a memo written by 31 politicians who publicly criticized Sudan’s use of live ammunition on protesters during demonstrations last month. The Sudanese Doctors Union said that 210 protesters were killed during the extended protests, with thousands arrested.

Internal party conflicts emerged when 31 NCP members wrote: “Mr. president, in the light of what is happening we demand an immediate stop of the economic measures.”

Bashir responded to the crisis by ordering the constitution of a committee to investigate their petition and those behind it. He said that the investigation and accountability committee (IAC) would be headed by Parliament Speaker Ahmad Taher. It was due to submit its report within a week. However, the deadline was extended until after Eid Al-Adha festivities. Reformists were however quick to criticize his move.

“The IAC is not a proper step — it reduces the problems of our country into one political procedure,” said Dr. Ghazi Al-Atabani, who signed the petition and is leading the reformist current within the NCP, wrote on his Facebook page. “It sends a negative message about the freedom available inside the NCP and raises questions about how ready its leaders are to accept new initiatives and ideas from citizens and from other political powers.”

The investigation highlighted conflicts within the ruling party according to an article in the Al-Yawm At-Tali daily published on Oct. 6. It said petition signatories accused the head of the investigating body of taming Parliament and distancing it from people’s main concerns. On Oct. 14, the IAC interviewed the leader of the last year’s alleged coup attempt Brig. Gen. Muhammad Ibrahim aka Wad Ibrahim. The spat echoes tensions that had emerged two years ago when Bashir was angered by an internal memo known as ‘The Thousand Brothers Memo,’ which called for political and economic reforms. Back then, Bashir threatened to punish the signatories, but no measures were taken.

The IAC has condemned public criticism of the party from within its own ranks, saying it supported opposition aiming to overthrow the regime, weakened unity and served enemies inside and outside the country. It leaves signatories with two options: Admit they have signed the document, which would prompt exclusion from the ruling party; or deny signing any memo. NCP’s Parliament member, Ibrahim Badr Al-Din, denied signing the petition, suggesting that he was out of the capital when it was created. However, it is likely that most signatories will stand their ground.

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